The Pack Lands

"I am going to die. "

These words seemed true to Linnëa no matter how much she wished not. As her trees and the place she loved burned to the floor, she had been trapped within the walls of fire and poisonous gases. So, there she was, standing on the preface of death. However, she did not feel scared. The trees she had gotten so accustomed to, the nature, the lesser animals, they were all dying. So why not her? It only seemed fair. For, the trees give life, do they not? She stood, staring into oblivion as she felt waves of heat buffet her coat, lightly singing the edges and growing ever closer to her, as if the very spirit of death lurked within the fire. No, water she did not fear, water was the bane of fire and what could be her salvation from the flame. But the tongues of heat blocked her escape, and she saw no way out.

Her lungs burned and she began to cough, as the smoke temporarily blew into her face. The wind once again kicked up, blowing more of it upon her and sending the flames even closer. She didn't mind. She'd rather be killed by that then her trees. However, she should not have thought of that, for a groan rang through her ears. That was when she became scared. As the tree fell upon her, she cried out in shock, lurching forward in an attempt to flee. The arms caught her though, and one of the thick branches knocked her aside and then she was buried in heat. The fire pitted her own against her! A snarl of anger escaped her maw. Her blue eyes opened suddenly, and everything looked different. No longer did the sense of impending doom loom above her, nor did the entire place look forbidding. No, for she saw one piece of escape.

Linnëa growled with effort as she freed herself from the clutches of her downed ally, turning to the tree with a last goodbye shining in her eyes. Then, she fled. Her head tucked and she yelled what seemed to be a war cry as she thundered through flame, her paws burning and beginning to bleed. She ran like never before, with a sudden furor. Adrenaline pulsed throughout her, fueling her every movement better than any other means could hope to. However, it was short lived, and not long after beginning her charge she began to lose energy, as her true tiredness took over. She was exhausted. Gradually she slowed to a desperate lope, then a trot, and before she could think she was walking. As she exited the smoke, to her impending delight, water lay before her. She dared not cross, most likely it would kill her if she tried any more. So, bloody paw step after bloody paw step, she lumbered into the shallows.

Everything went black, and she crumpled into a heap, her head just out of the water.

The white brute's eyes widened as the fire's flames glowed in them. The heat was intense and felt like it was rushing at his back like he did when he hunted those annoying hares in the old valley. But none of that mattered to him now.



He may never get to hunt again if he couldnt escape the flames. Fear was racing through the brute. His tail kept shaking from it all and he tired to keep his tail tucked under his large body. That didnt work so well for him. As his tail rushed out from under his legs a flame struck it. Phantom yelped out loudly with pain as loud as he could. He was alone, or so he thought.


With his tail now shinged, the brute gazed around. The only thing in his view was red, orange, and yellow, and gray. The fire had made a wall around him. He howled out, trying to seek for help. He waited. Nothing rang back into his ears. He began to whimper loudly, thinking that his young life was about to end. Come down in a painful crashing end.

Please i do not wish to die like this!


It was now or never. A section of the wall was rising and falling as the wind blow towards it. Phantom turned over to the face the wall. He gulped. The brute had no time to study the wall now. Again, it was now or never. He had to take the jump. Or in his case, a suicide leap. He leaped when he thought the flames would be down. But the brute was wrong. The flames shot up as he was in mid air. They burnt his stomach and he yelped out with evern more pain. He came to a crash into the ash covered ground and lay there with pain. So much pain.

Kira's ears splayed slightly as she thought she had heard a yelp within the forest. It was muffled by the crackling, and she believed she may have been imagining things. Then she heard the noise again, and was certain it was someone. Her pastel eyes widened as she looked to the trees and back to Crimson and Adena. She sprinted towards the wall of smoke, foolishly not taking her own advice in staying with a group. Perhaps Crimson or Adena had followed her though? Nontheless, that was the last thought on her mind.

The ebony female slowed only when she had entered the wall, the thick smoke making her eyes burn and her lungs feel dry. She bounded until she vaguely saw a small familiar hill that the flames had yet to demolish. She quickly made her way to the top of it, using the elevation to see if she could see any stragglers. The smoke made the visibility poor, and she was unable to see much of anything- let alone figures. So instead she barked loudly, perking her ears as she waited for any response.

Spirit halted in her tracks, her head swiveling around as she watched Gale turn tail and head straight back into the fire. It was foolish, even Spirit knew that. She had been fighting back thoughts of running off in search of any stragglers herself; but to see someone actually do it... she was left in shock. Who would save Gale now? He was alone in the blazing forest. A growl rumbled in Spirit's throat as she took a few steps forward, her fur bristling. "Gale! C'mon we're almost there! Don't-" Her voice was drained out as Cinnamon began shouting beside her. Spirit winced, her ears going flat against her skull as the scholar yelled and begged for Gale to come back. Spirit turned, ready to begin making her way once more to the creek when Cinnamon's dark form raced past her; stirring up ash and smoke. Spirit coughed, the smoke making her lungs burn with every breath she took.

A soft breeze brought fresh air rushing towards Spirit, the sweet smell of water and grass being carried along with it. Her pace quickened, a desperate need to see the water's glimmering surface rising within her. For once, Spirit was actually overjoyed to see water. Though as the creek came into view Spirit's hopes began to diminish, something back fired with her as she halted at the shore line, her eyes wide with fright. Water. The very thing that both gave the forest life and took it away. How many had been swept away with it's currents? A splash somewhere to her right signified Cinnamon has reached safety. Spirit began pacing along the shore, a low whine escaping jaws. Another splash came from somewhere off to her side, causing Spirit to jump. Whipping around, the Lead Scout spotted Linnea's form lying in the water, her head barely poking above the surface. "Linnea!" Spirit sprinted towards the khaki she-wolf. She knelt down beside her friend, the water lapping at her sides. Spirit scanned the land around the two of them. Looking, pleading for some kind of help to appear.

(Kind of choppy... Just trying to keep up.)

The white brute's stomach ached with ever more pain as he whined loudly after hearing a bark. Phantom tired to bark but the sound was blocked out by the roars from the flames. He hoped that his loud whinning would hope-fully be able to be heard.

What are the chances of that?

Phantom shut both of his golden eyes as a blast of smoke hit them. They began to water but yet they felt so dry. He stomach burned just as bad as the roaring fire. But something kept telling him that he was sure to live. He would just have to make that sense come true. The almost albino male slowly let his head lay upon his, now stretched out, front paws. The breath from the flames ruffled his fur, greatly. He whined out again, hoping that the wolf that barked out would find him.


Only seconds later, which felt more like ages, coughs came bursting out of him. The smoke was punishing his lungs, terribly. His throat was dry and the smoke was coloring his white pelt into a dark ash gray shade. He re-opened his eyes but only to be able to see burning land. He squinted to try to see anyone but the pain from his now hairless stomach made them fully close once again. He couldnt help but yelp out again.

The white brute opened his eyes at the sound of Kira's voice. Phantom tired to speak aloud but only grunting came out of him. His eyes were as dull as the smoke now. The heat and smoke seemed to sucking the spirit right out from under him. He knew that Kira wouldnt be able to drag him to safty. I have to help her. He closed his eyes and slowly came to his paws. His ears and tail lay flat. The large brute was still shaking from fear. He manged to cough up the words "Where are the others?" Cough after cough, he was slowly regained the hope to live. Even with all emotions going through him. After speaking the words, the worried thought of other wolves going through more pain then him and even others burning alive. He just wished that the others were safe. Right then and there through smoked thoughts the brute promised himself that if a scholar or sage was to try to help him, he'd make sure the others were in being treated before him. For to him, they are more important.

((Sorry for long delay of posting!!))

Ice knew Sepya didn't believe her words of 'I'll be fine.' It didn't matter now however, they needed no more than to find a way out, Ice replied to Sepyas attempted sarcasm, "There has to be some way out, if anything we'll find the river and will have to wade across it." Ice scanned the forest around them, the flames more violent behind them than in the front where it was only still beginning to be burnt up. Ice pointed her gaze towards the forest with less fire, "We'll have to run through there to make it to the river. The forest isn't too badly burnt yet but, it'll sure be that way if we don't hurry. So, we gonna stand here and wait to be baked or are we gonna run like maddened moose? I vote we run... You?" Ices ears flicked every which way in worry and anxiety.

((short and lame i know... im posting this at midnight ok?))

"GALE!!!!!!!!!!"

"Gale! C'mon we're almost there! Don't-"

The voices of Spirit and Cinnamon would lost to the sound of the burning forest. Gale just continued to run through the fiery world without thinking of where he was going. His paws thundered on the earth and stirred up ash. Smoke clouded his vision as he got deeper and deeper into the flames. A burning branch nearly landed right on the male's back but the sound of the splintering wood gave him just enough time to manouver his hefty body to the right just as the singed branch hit the ground with a muffled thump. Soot flew into the air and into the warrior's green eyes. The male shook her eyes and blinked constantly as he attempted to rid himself of the stinging sensation. His eyes burned for several moments before they cleared themselves of all the debri.

Looking around, Gale took note of his surrounds and tried to guess where he was in the territory. Judging by the burning elm, he was still on the more outskirts; he had plenty of ground to cover before reaching the heart of the Banishing Winds territory. Massive paws were on the move again and struck the ground in the smooth, rhythmic pattern. He paid little attention to the ever present, primeval instincts that were screaming at him to retreat and leave all others. The instinct was a powerful one and one that was engrained into his mind by his ancestors. Usually, he would have obeyed without question however, he had to think of how Taru and Elysia would have acted in a time like this. Elysia would have spoken quietly and worried about her pack mates. Taru would have gone into the flames with him to comb through and gather all stragglers.

Stopping to rest his aching muscles, the Wanderer glanced around again. Still no other wolves had crossed his vision. Were they all safe? He could just assume and simply depart with no questions asked. However, the compassion that he normally did not exhibit rose within him; telling him to make sure that he left no wolf behind. Lifting his head, he let a deep, rich bass of a howl flow from his lips. It was a beacon, one that informed all others that he was in the flames and that he was looking for those who were lost. If they chose to do so and howled back, he would come for them and lead them from the burning world.

Dropping his head, the warrior panted heavily before coughing. Now came the hardest part of all. He had to wait for the replies of any before he could make his next move.

[Lame..]

"Linnea!"

Spirit's alarmed voice made Cinnamon turn. Exhausted she bounded and splashed her way back across the creek to where the Master Scholar was laying in the water. She dropped her head, quickly acertaining that the female was alive... though badly burned and more exhausted than herself.

Slowly she dropped down next to the other scholar, lifting the sandy head with its stripe so it lay on her side rather than the cold damp bank. Then she lifted her head, looking back into the forest.

I hope Crimson's alright. She sighed, turning to Spirit "Kira's going to be furious at me when they get here, I put the whole pack in danger by charging off like that to find Gale..." Then she froze, her heart sinking "They'll think we're still in the forest, they'll be risking their lives looking for us" She drew a breath and howled, calling out that she was safe, that Spirit and Linny were with her.

As it died away she dropped her head and began to lick the Master Scholar's ears, trying to rouse her.

The white male didnt say another word after Kira had spoken. She was right after all, he thought. Phantom tired as hard as he could to keep at a steady pace. The faster he would move, the closer the others would be to safety. He whimpered softly under the his breath from his leg muscels ruffling his stomach muscels. The brute tired and tired not to whimper but thet pain was just so unbariable. He didnt want Kira or the wolf, to whom he never meet and he heard Kira call, Adena.

"Cinnamon, you can stop now, let me get up. " Linnëa groaned, her eyes opened to slits as she adjusted to the light filtering in her eyes. She could smell, dully and hazily, the scent of her own blood mingled with the smell of fish-water. Her nose wrinkled with evident distaste. Linnëa pushed herself from the ground, taking a step forward but not getting far before she gasped in pain. Flicking her head downwards and upside down, she caught sight of the gash mingled with white fur along her lower right side from the tree. She closed her eyes, regaining her sanity for a moment, recomposing herself. No pain. She was absolutely sure there were many more harmed far worse than her, maybe some dead, and she could not let the tiny cut hamper her. She waded deeper into the waters, slowing down as her gash submerged beneath the cool currents, wincing as it stung as if ten bees were angered at her lower belly. Then, ignoring the pain, she pushed off from the floor and began to progress across.

"Trust me, whoever is in there is either doomed or almost out, it is far too large to dare venture inside the flames any longer. Let us be off, we need to regroup across the river as we were told" Linnëa called back to the others as she hit the ground on the other side of the river, standing chest deep and staring back towards them. Millions of names rang in her mind over and over, all of the pack members.

Who was lost?

"Cinnamon, you can stop now, let me get up. "

She obeyed the order but watched warily as Linnëa pulled herself to her feet and waded into the river. Unconciously she turned back to the burning forest, worry thumping with her heart.

Come on, where are you all?

Then she heard Linnëa call from the other side of the river "Trust me, whoever is in there is either doomed or almost out, it is far too large to dare venture inside the flames any longer. Let us be off, we need to regroup across the river as we were told"

Doomed... She shook her head, both in defiance and to dispel the thought, then shouted to the other female "NO. Not until Crimson, Kira and Gale are out of there!." She stared at the flames, then looked over at the head of her rank "You can rip me to peices for insubordination if you want, but I'm not moving...I didn't travel for miles to find this pack in order to just abandon it"

Throwing back her head she howled again, putting all her strength and courage into it.

"GET OUT OF THERE!" She bellowed "CRIMSON! KIRA! GALE! ANYONE..." Then she dropped her head and spread her feet, ready to run if she had to but also vowing herself to a vigil untill the pack staggered out of the flames.

Tara smelled smoke as she walked then she heard a wolf howl. Thats when she thought "someone must need help in there..." She picked up her paste until her long legs were carrying her through the forest at full speed as the wind rushed through her fur. She tried to get to the wolf trying to detect where they were but it was hard to catch any sent through the smoke. She then saw a river and small figures by it in the distance. The female picked up her paste until her legs ached and made it to the wolves. "why are you just standing here!" The candid said over the roaring fire. "don't you know theres a fire!"

(Not good at all, but we need to get things moving! We always seem to drag on our plots longer then intended. Anyways...by my next few post the fire will probably dim down or something and the territory will be lost. No one was lost in the fire or anything so for those who have not been here for a while or just haven't posted once it is over you will just say you made it out with a few burnt pads or something! ^_^

If anyone has any questions please ask! )

Queen lifted her head, she has passed out after finding Soran. She opened her eyes as the short flames ate her fur. She reacted quickly, hoping to her paws. She bolted off running through the woods, dodging every burning thing. Her mind screamed help, but her voice went no where. She arrived out of the woods and slowed down, she followed a male (Crimson).. hoping he'd lead her somewhere safe.

(( .. bleh ))

Tara narrows her eyes trying to see through the fog it seemed in possible she assumed that the wolf was waiting for some one but Tara doubted any one could have survived. The candid walked closer to the burning forest but couldn't get any closer without her eyes stinking from smoke. The female wondered how long she could wait with this wolf until they got engulfed in flames to. No matter even if she didn't know this wolf she waited surprised with herself for she had a terrible fear of flames.

"why are you just standing here!" Don't you know there's a fire!"

Cinnamon turned her head slightly to see a strange female with a reddish coat standing near her.

"I am perfectly aware there is a fire." As she spoke she felt calm, so calm it was almost detatchment. "However I am also aware that at least seven of my pack members are still in that forest, including two who I am close to. I will not leave until they are safe."

She noticed the female was trembling, glancing back and forth between the stream and the fire with equal fear for each. She caught the female's glance and held it "Go down next to the stream, you don't have to go in it. When the others come I will swim across with you...." She sighed, hpoing she was speaking the truth "It is shallow at the banks, you can lie in it there and still have your head above the water. If the fire breaks this line of trees that is what I want you to do."

I am already likely responsible for the deaths of Kira and everyone else with her, I will not add this stranger to my tally

Silently, she turned back to her vigil

(Don't worry, I know you'll survive, Cinny's just worrying and feeling guilty)

Tara was quiet embarrassed that she let her fears show. But the female did as the wolf said and sat near the river, the water was just barley tugging at her reddish fur and her brown eyes stung from smoke. This was horrible position for her to be in and she wasn't sure if she could go through with this. But this wolf in front of her was being so brave and strong. She must care a lot for these wolves. Tara would be courageous to. After all this wolf had fear in her eyes to. Fear that her beloved pack-mates may not make it out, but all wolves need to have hope and courage.